A confrontation over a blocked sidewalk in California ended tragically when a man driving a Mercedes-Benz allegedly killed a 74-year-old woman who had “spilled” water on his vehicle. This incident unfolded after a verbal exchange between the two, according to prosecutors. The driver reportedly struck the woman with his car and subsequently ran over her after she fell off the hood.

Valentino Amil, aged 31, faces charges for the murder of Dannielle Spillman in an incident that took place in San Francisco on April 13. The alleged crime occurred as Amil was leaving a gas station located at Mission Street and South Van Ness Avenue. After the incident, he allegedly drove away from the scene with his wife and two children in the car.

According to court documents, Amil was at the Chevron gas station at 1601 Mission Street, where he had refueled his black 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan. As he was preparing to leave, Amil reportedly had his window down and was attempting to merge into traffic on Mission Street. During this maneuver, his car was partially obstructing the sidewalk.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office detailed the event in a press release. They stated that as Amil’s vehicle was partially on the sidewalk, the elderly victim, walking along that path, appeared to take issue with the obstruction. The two exchanged words as the woman moved from the driver’s side to the front of Amil’s car.

Prosecutors, citing surveillance footage, note that Spillman was seen walking in front of the Mercedes, which was stopped on the sidewalk. During this time, Amil allegedly continued a verbal exchange with Spillman as she maneuvered around the vehicle.

The District Attorney’s office claims that Spillman poured liquid from a water bottle onto the hood of Amil’s car. In response, Amil allegedly accelerated the vehicle, striking the victim.

Spillman was knocked off her feet and onto the Mercedes’ hood and windshield, per the DA’s office. “After driving several feet, Mr. Amil decelerated and the victim slid off the hood, landing directly in front of the car,” the office alleges. “According to eyewitnesses, Mr. Amil then allegedly drove off, running over the victim and not stopping.”

Police and medics arrived on scene and pronounced Spillman dead less than 10 minutes later, according to prosecutors. Amil was later arrested by San Francisco Police without incident after allegedly driving away from the scene while Spillman was dying.

“My husband is not a villain,” Amil’s wife, who is choosing to remain anonymous, told local Fox affiliate KTVU after he was charged with murder and ordered held without bail last week.

“It’s not fair that the villain that they’re painting of my husband,” the wife said. “I am not handling this well. I haven’t ate, I haven’t slept, I wake up crying, and I go to sleep crying.”

Amil’s father, who also asked for his identity to be withheld by KTVU, told the outlet, “This was an accident that’s steered into a direction that it should not be.”

During his first court appearance last week, Amil’s defense lawyer said he was trying to protect his family from Spillman that day. The attorney noted how Amil was with his 5-month-old son and 11-year-old daughter, and was worried about their safety.

Prosecutors say Amil intentionally hit and killed Spillman, with the DA’s office pointing to the surveillance video that allegedly shows Amil running over Spillman’s body after she fell off the hood of his Mercedes.

“Mr. Amil is charged with murder, with an allegation that he used a deadly weapon (automobile) in the commission of the murder,” the DA’s office says in its press release. “He is also charged with one count of felony leaving the scene of an accident.”

Amil is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on May 6.